/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

After symbol drawing and drawing countless boxes and insects and perspective and gesture and basic construction, I've reached anatomy, but I have a question.

My end goal is to draw anime/catoony characters, so should I start copying that style while I study real anatomy or should I do real anatomy first and then start copiying? Keep in mind i'm not trying to skimp on anatomy. I just hear a lot of people say you should start copying other artists but im not sure if its a meme or not.
And I'm also currently unemployed so I gotta a lot of free time to study both at the same time.